Books Signed by World Leaders

by Richard Davies

The politicians who shape our world nearly always write books. They are usually published as their careers are winding down as reflections on a career or to leave a lasting legacy, although Barack Obama wrote Dreams From My Father before he became a member of the Illinois Senate in 1996. Autobiographies and memoirs are commonplace, and there is a surprisingly high number of signed copies on the rare book market.

It is possible to find books signed by American presidents and British prime ministers, and many other statesmen and women including South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, Poland’s Lech Walesa and Russia’s Mikhail Gorbachev. We also have books signed by a leader in exile, a couple of foreign policy experts and a former secretary general of the United Nations. Whether you're looking for inspiration or just a fascinating read about an unusual life, these books fit the bill, and the signatures make them invaluable.

Some of these signed books are becoming exceptionally scarce, so the price tag is naturally high, while others are still plentiful, and as a result, surprisingly affordable.